*There's a new layout, which is the same as the old new layout. The revival event used the old old layout, which should more properly be described as the new old layout. There may be a new new layout somewhere but we'd need a Punnett square to identify it.

Mo(notony)townIndycar racing has a long history of making bold but extremely questionable decisions. The most famous one in recent years happened when Bruton Smith and Bobby Rahal got drunk and signed a deal to race military surplus F-15s at Bristol. It was cancelled after computer simulations held after qualifying projected a number of fatalities greater than the whole of Tennessee.

This one is a bit less extreme but still puzzling. They've decided to run full-length races on consecutive days on the most reliably boring track on the calendar. I think they're planning to dynamite the bridges out of Belle Isle during Saturday's race, ensuring a good turn-out for part two.

Like a struggling tyre supplier being accused by its customers of carrying out tyre testing, I don't know where to look.

Come on, it's not as bad as Mid-Ohio!Well that's true. Belle Isle has this weird and often-remarked ability to be incredibly dull for 30 laps then some idiot stuffs it into the wall and all hell breaks loose on the restart(s). So in some ways it's the quintessential street circuit. Takuma Sato appears to be treading the other side of the fine line between stupid and clever this year, so we might need another volunteer (make that two volunteers) to be this weekend's Felipe Massa.

FactDuring the Second World War Detroit asked the international community (with a couple of notable exceptions) whether it would like to host the United Nations on beautiful Belle Eel. However they didn't have the idea of combining it with an Indycar double-header so the bid was unsuccessful.

However wikipedia has the following line: "For the Indianapolis 500, qualifying points are awarded for all 33 cars at the Indianapolis 500. The point scale slides based on the teams that qualify for the top-nine shootout, then descending by speed and position."

The points system is supposed to be:However wikipedia has the following line: "For the Indianapolis 500, qualifying points are awarded for all 33 cars at the Indianapolis 500. The point scale slides based on the teams that qualify for the top-nine shootout, then descending by speed and position."

So hell if I know who should have how many points.

That's the old system from last year. Now from 18th to 25, they count down from 12 to 5. Then it's 5 from their to 33.

Points for qualifying at Indy are like described already, and Iowa qualifying points are from 1st to 12th, and go from 9 points and count down to 1 where they continue from position 9 to 12 where those drivers get only 1 point.

One point is awarded to any driver who leads at least one lap during a race.Extra points awarded for qualifying at Indianapolis and Iowa based on drivers performance.Ties in points broken by number of wins, followed by number of 2nds, 3rds, etc., and then by number of pole positions, followed by number of times qualified 2nd, etc.

Oh yes. They've gone back to the "improved" version of the circuit that CART switched to. I never saw enough CART races on either to determine if it actually was better. The longer straight between T2 and T3 should make for an overtaking opportunity and it cuts out the very slow right-left-right section.

Hmmm... not sure if I'll be watching the Sunday race, since I have an exam first thing on Monday. I'll have to see how I feel! Given that it's Detroit though, that does lead me to think it will be a long race due to yellows...

Phew. I think it would be too much to add to this already busy weekend.

I don't want IndyCar trying to compete with GP2's Monaco start. They set the bar quite high.

ps. As to your point about points, there was a pre-season radio interview where Beaux Barfield said something like, 'We don't have the kind of money needed to incentivize drivers, but what we do have is an infinite number of points to dole out.' So expect all sorts of little point bonuses to crop up now and then. I believe he was saying this in reference to rewarding the triple crown, after which Fuzzy's stepped in with actual money money.

So true..I didn't get where I am today without recognising the most entertaining racing this side of 1997...Jp

It's definitely on par with the Zanardi years, although I think we have a bit to go before the 1993-1995 high water mark. Still, something to be celebrated. That DW12; uglier than sin but I'll be damned if she isn't game for a hard dice.

Idk. It use to be popular... It's a manmade island for rich people to live on, but it never caught on and they've been swapping owners ever since creation. Wouldn't doubt if people thought that it already sank

When I was at university I chatted with an exchange student from the University of Michigan and I wheeled out all my Detroit knowledge. (Did you know that Belle Isle is actually north of Canada? THANK YOU PAUL PAGE FOR MENTIONING IT IN EVERY BROADCAST.) This guy not only knew that Belle Isle was a place, but also that the roads had "some kind of Formula 1 grid on them".

Last year was a 60 lap race, this year we're doing 70 laps twice? I didn't know that. I thought the double headers were going to be like hour long races each or something. But now each is longer than the original? Ay caramba.

Last year was a 60 lap race, this year we're doing 70 laps twice? I didn't know that. I thought the double headers were going to be like hour long races each or something. But now each is longer than the original? Ay caramba.

Two full races. I think the fiasco at Texas a few years back turned I think the series from shorter races.

Plus, at least to me, this is the best way to do a double header weekend. On par with the junior formula (outside GP2/GP3), and what other series that run two+ races a weekend do (well outside V8 Supercars who do their own awkward thing).